ERNEST RUBENSTEIN GALLERY -> HOPE LIVES: Artists of the Lower East Side group show

"Five Stars""★★★★★"

Review of HOPE LIVES: Artists of the Lower East Side, group show:

This was a wonderful and engaging show exhibiting twelve artists who have lived in the Lower East Side for many years. When you first walk in you are greeted by a group of wonderfully organic wood sculptures cleverly crafted from old tree Branches and twigs that were then woven into a meaningful narrative. After this lovely greeting you are taken though a great and diverse set of work ranging from architectural photos to Vampire anatomy drawings to woven quilts to abstract gold leaf pieces. Despite the enormous variety in the show everything came together both visually and emotionally. Overall you leave the show with a very satisfied creative stomach after witnessing such solid and grounded work. I could really tell this show was not about making political statements, about bringing to light a controversial subject or about exposing some injustice. This show was about artists who are fulfilling the creative void that exists in the world and about doing the kind of art that is fulfilling instead of selling out. I highly recommend this art show!

Artists: Kuki Gomez. Deborah Holcombe, William Holton, Katherine Jackson, Tim Lomas, Jill London, Tim Milk, Paul Nowell, chev d'orange, John Pavlou, Suchitra Van and April Vollmer.

Press release of HOPE LIVES: Artists of the Lower East Side, group show:

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Ziehersmith Gallery -> Stephane Calais: Flowers for America art show

"Four Stars" "★★★★"

Online art Gallery of Ziehersmith Gallery -> Stephane Calais: Flowers for America

Review of Ziehersmith Gallery -> Stephane Calais: Flowers for America art show:

This art show has tons of different types of work in it, even plants! It was almost four separate installations in one. In this sense it was a roller coaster ride! Very complex stuff here guys. I didn't get enough time at the show to really figure it all out. I definitely saw the juxtaposition of the portraits next to the flowers and that was enough for me. I felt like the show was a success because the artist really took into consideration of alot of different facts in the layout display and construction of the show. The one thing that didn't fit was the title "flowers for America."
I saw the floral aspect of the show, but I didn't see the America part. I was a shame because maybe that was why I had a hard time figuring the show out and ultimately took away from my viewing experience.

Press release for Ziehersmith Gallery -> Stephane Calais: Flowers for America art show:

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Onishi gallery -> Megumi Nagai: Face

"Five Stars" "★★★★★"

Review for Onishi gallery -> Megumi Nagai: Face solo exhibit:

Really, Really, Really Good! Just like it says in the press release, Nagai's works come alive using wood pieces as a canvas for her intricate colorful etchings. Aside from the technically interesting process of Nagai's work, there is a deeply emotional as well as symbolic message embedded within the art. Nagai's launching point for her style of old feudal Japanese artwork is obvious but it doesn't over power the work with traditionalism, instead it enhances the beautiful aesthetics and also the dreamy surrealism surrounding her subjects. The images are so fantastic and full of narration that they seep into the back of your mind and stick there vines creeping up an old stone garden wall. Displayed in a less intimate setting the work may have been less impactful due to their small and concise scale, but since the Onishi gallery is small and extremely cute I was drawn into the work even more. These pieces would be a perfect compliment to a small studio apartment or artsy bathroom or den Or any room with moderately low ceilings. Surprisingly affordable for such a great caliber of work I think Nagai under values her creative process and could easily raise her pricing tenfold (but I'm not sure how well she is recognized in the art world.) This would be a great show for any body who likes great art! Must see these in person, their power don't get conveyed over the Internet.

Press Release for Onishi gallery -> Megumi Nagai: Face solo exhibit:

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Ramis Barquet Chelsea Gallery-> Rashaad Newsome: Standards solo exhibit

"Five Stars" "★★★★★"

Review of Ramis Barquet Chelsea Gallery-> Rashaad Newsome: Standards solo exhibit:

Rashaad Newsome is just a fantastic artist who is producing fine and well thought out work that is socially and politically relevant. The press release offers some wonderful insight to the deeper meaning of Newsome's work. Both the art and the video definitely accomplished what they set out to do. And like a cherry on the top of a sundae, there was a killer coat of arms in the back room of the gallery through a set of silver (or possibly platinum) gates which changed the common usage of the gallery space from an exhibit place into a mysterious landscape in which you are a guest and you should feel privileged to get access. The symbolic magnitude of this show is way to echoing and far reaching for me to cover in this short review. The general feel for the show is not about emotion or even trying to evoke any kind of reaction. It was educational and a clear personal formulation of idea's. I was impressed that it didn't come across at in an arrogant or posh manner but instead the work was well grounded in the real world. I just realized this review is really vague...so to cut my confusing rambling short: I liked the show and I think you will too.

Press release of Ramis Barquet Chelsea Gallery-> Rashaad Newsome: Standards solo exhibit:

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Winston Wachter Fine Art Inc -> Andreas Kocks:Current Events

"Three Stars" "★★★"

Review of Winston Wacher Fine Art Inc-> Andreas Kocks:Current Events:

The Winston Wachter Gallery was not on my agenda Thursday night when I started my weekly gallery tour of Chelsea, but as always there were some more galleries that I didn't know about that had their doors open with a huge crowd of socialites doing what they do best (socializing). When I walked in I was greeted with a huge peice of graphite covered paper on the gallery wall cut out into an intiguing design. The whole galler was covered in graphite paper feathers and splaters and goo and blood. The title "Current Events" made tied the whole art show together. Kocks made full use of the Winston Wachter's interesting roomy layout and was a sucsess! The only thing thatwas lacking was a deeper emotional conection with the viewer which wasn't comunicated through the work. This coulb be that the work was an not an emotional reaction to the work but rather a conceptual one leaving a tad sense of being forced. The show was still sucessful and I would love to have Kocks set up some work in my condo! (I would be soooo cool!)Gotta see this one. NOTE: The pic above is not from the exhibit.

Press release of Winston Wacher Fine Art Inc-> Andreas Kocks:Current Events:

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Gana Art New York -> Shigeru Uchida: Vague Hazy Transparent Wavering

"Five Stars" "★★★★★"

Review of Vague Hazy Transparent Wavering:

The Gana Art center really out did themselves with this high profile show of Shigeru Uchida. Uchida is one of the designers today with lots of high profile grants and awards who has been producing for over 30 years! This exhibit was incredible and multi-faceted. For one thing, the attendees at this show were much more interesting than the other receptions that evening, some even wearing traditional feudal Japanese outfits. When I walked in I was greeted with somebodies lovely perfume (typically I don't notice perfume) and it was very pleasant. In a way the pleasant sweetness of the perfume foreshadowed the exhibit.

One of the first things you see when you enter is the large wooden trees (pictured above) and there is a small description on the left wall about some traditional Japanese concepts which set the tone of the lens that you will view the rest of the installation with. It's hard to describe the show really, you'll just have to see it for yourself! Any self respecting art connoisseur cannot miss this opportunity to see Uchida's contemporary works! The first floor also had pools of water which were lit from the bottom casting out a mystical wavering light onto the walls. Also littered throughout the show were these little white creature like benches (also above). On the second floor were some intricate shelving designs that looked like they came right out of a photo sequence. In the same room there was watery light projected onto the floor with more white creatures. Overall Uchida really created an amazing atmosphere that captured some of the essence of Japanese culture and also provided a great sense of tranquility with multi layered meaning. This is a MUST MUST MUST MUST SEE! Enjoy the show!

Press Release for Gana Art New York's Shigeru Uchida: Vague Hazy Transparent Wavering show:

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Marlborough Chelsea -> Steven Charles: The Upstairs Room

"Five Stars" "★★★★★"

Press Release(pdf)

Review of Marlborough Chelsea: Steven Charles's The Upstairs Room:

Wow! Open up your eye's for this juicy and amazing show! This was by far the best show I saw on Oct 15th when visiting receptions in Chelsea. The Internet pics definitely do not give Charles credit for the complexities of his work. He uses enamel in all of his work, dipping paining and splattering making some parts of the frame 3D; actually popping out of the canvass. Furthermore, he does not limit himself to the canvas including old shoes and miniature trees in his pieces. There was even an actual pop-up book enameled to the painting in one of the pieces! That's not including the three contemporary monolithic sculptures that were presented. Not only is the enamel layered, so is his works meanings. "The Upstairs Room" really touches on a range of themes from religion to sex! Combine intensely enamel graphics, a plethora of topics, some awesome colors and an old sneaker with some empty cleaning containers and you get whats in "the upstairs room". These works seem to reflect on persons perceptions of the world or rather they reflect that persons reflections of his or her perception of the world and whatever else is on their mind. This show could set a new trend for expressionism with a twist! Each piece has an almost visceral impact on the viewer forcing them to take in these snapshots and depictions due to the totally unique presentations. All of the work has no kind of contrived feeling, but rather its all very natural and organic feeling. I would guess that Charles is a very genuine person in real life (didn't get to meet him unfortunately).

If you go see one show this fall THIS IS IT! MUST SEE!

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AC Institute -> Deborah Johnson: In Star Orbit

Installation pic.
My rendition of the installation.
(I could possible be being a bit harsh)
"NO STARS"

AC Institute Exhibits In A Star Orbit

Review of AC Institutes's exhibit:

This show was...um...how should i put this...not up to par. The room, about 100 sq ft was dark and had these three "planets" and a little bench for you to sit on. Unfortunately the materials and the atmosphere reminded me of cheap 80's prom night decorations. I couldn't manage to spend too much time there, I felt that uncomfortable adolescence awkwardness that is associated with ugly 80's Glam decorations. Maybe if the music was louder?...no...better to go back to the drawing board. Do not waste your time on this one.

Press release of Deborah Johnson's show:

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MoMa -> In & Out of Amsterdam: Travels in Conceptual Art, 1960–1976

"Five Stars" "★★★★★"

This exhibition examines approximately seventy-five works by artists of different nationalities relating to travel and the city of Amsterdam, which was the nexus of intense art activities in the 1960s and 1970s, when artists converged there from all over the world. Hanne Darboven, Gilbert & George, Sol LeWitt, Charlotte Posenenske, Allen Ruppersberg, and Lawrence Weiner, among others, spent considerable amounts of time in Amsterdam and often produced works in direct relation to the city.

from the Moma website.

I absolutly loved this show! It's highly intimate, thought provolking has art from a ton of artists! Its presentation is equaly intimate allowing each piece its own livelyhood. You leave with a clear feeling of what effect amsterdam has on artists(its warm and fuzzy!). Included is work from all sorts of artists, from old slowmotion 8mm Film projectors to graphic presentations on maps of amsterdamn. I felt like I was transported there for a blink of an eye. Much of the work is also some of the more earlyer work of the artists before they became more established. So there is a fresh and exploritory feel to much of the art. Whoever curtated this show was spot on! Hurry and go on Friday after 5:30 when you get in for free! Get your whistle wet on the exibit website!

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MoMa -> Ron Arad: No Discipline

Three Stars "★★★"

Moma did a great job at hyping this exhibit up! They had a great big ad campaign and everything! Unfortunately for all those who got exited, the show was...lacking. The New York Magazine but it best in their super grid. "It looked like a glorified dive bar in a washed up Vegas hotel"(or something like that) Not to discount Ron Arad and his designs, It was a curation disaster. Half of the items on exhibit are 20 feet above your head in this grid like structure. Now how am i supposed to be fascinated by some intricately designed sculpture If I'm, looking at it from a distance. Moma's Ron Arad exhibit is best viewed virtually. Some of the "cool" factor is lost in its virtual presentation but the great wall of "No Discipline" does a good job of killing the experience. The pieces themselves up close and personal were very interesting.
Arad does a great job at taking everyday functionality to an extreme which plays into his title of no discipline. he doesn't stick to the convention of for example straight lines or standard furniture structures. A MUST SEE FOR DESIGNERS! That goes without saying. I especially enjoyed the use of reflective surfaces in the exhibit. So you should go if you like shiny stuff!

• 'rtw' storage-wheel for hidden, 2000

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Mixed Greens Gallery->Watch Me Slowly Death by Zane Lewis

"Five stars!" "★★★★★"

Brilliant! This IS the best show I've seen all summer. I actually viewed it before the reception last Thursday. Zane Lewis is a fantastic artist and he really blew away his previous work and brought in an amazing new level of meaning. His multimedia project features cutouts of name brand ads in various shapes and then he paints over them. Further more he created two tone mirrors with the impression of a skull. Then he positioned lights shining into the mirror at an angle so that the skull was reflected onto the floor so that when you stood in front of the piece you effectively became part of the piece. On top of that he printed a quote on the wall behind you so you read it in the skull mirror. Quite Brilliant! The evocative imagery and the sheer emotion of the presentation fueled Watch Me Slowly Death to an exquisite level of intrigue and engrosses the viewer. Another plus for the show was that the work interacted perfectly with the gallery space which had a second floor view outside in the front area and a nice sized back section.

This is an ABSOLUTE MUST SEE. I spent nearly an hour going to each piece just so I could take it all in. Apparently the opening was also well Attended at the Mixed Greens Gallery! Check it out!

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Paul Kasmin Gallery-> Naked!

Naked! Showing at the Paul Kasmin Gallery was at first glance very successful. The show juxtaposes traditional nudes with contemporary art with a wonderful use of interplay between the pieces as they react with one another. As I was looking at a traditional bronze sculpture with a back drop of two hot pink men in a forest I thought to myself "This is pure genius!" There are quite a few different forms and artists who focused on exploring the naked body in a plethora of different ways. You can see the pieces online here: Naked Art Show! The show is a success in that it really gets those rusty gears inside your head moving. This show is very important to any artist that either deals with nudity in their art or who is considering an art project involving nude men or women. Unfortunately, I cannot give this show 5 stars. After the initial fascination with all of the interaction between the works and when you start to come to the end of the show, you realize that it is painfully obvious what race the curators are. Almost 100% of the works deal with Caucasian bodies. Almost all of the artists are also white. And you guessed it the curators are white too. Now I'm not sure but if one is going to explore the history of nudes in art I'm pretty sure one should include at the very least 10% or 20% at least of art that is done by people who are not white. I'm sure there are plenty.

In sum the art in the show is good. But there is an intrinsic flaw (or even racist flaw) with the Creation that negates the pros and insights of the show on principle. Again you can see the art here: Naked Art Show!

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Tina Kim Gallery-> I Stepped Into the Room

Featuring 6 NYC artists "I Stepped Into the Room" at the Tina Kim Gallery is a failure. It is a failure at what it is trying to accomplish and a failure at remotely engaging the viewer. I hope this is not the direction young New York City artists are headed or I'm going to have to move to Italy! Based on Sylvia Plath's, The Bell Jar, the show is supposed to question "identity, etiology, and purpose" but I found all of the work to lack depth, thought, and it was completely self serving to the artists. Cherry picked with this Plath idea in mind from a list with darts and then put into a gallery; is my evaluation. There is a collage painting thing on the north wall which is interesting at first, but then it becomes frustrating to look at because its is way to small and one would have to stoop over and lean towards the wall with ones eyeball to make out the details. Very messy. The rest of the work was too boring to comment on. I'll include a picture for an example on the left.

AVOID. Save your time.

Artists: Tracey Goodman, Kyung Jeon, Shiri Mordechay, Habby Osk, Rocio Rodriguez Salceda, Joanna M. Wezyk

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